CONSAL INFORMATION

Congress of Southeast Asia Librarians (CONSAL) is the sole regional organization of the libraries, library schools, Library Associations, and related institutions of the ASEAN countries. It was founded in Singapore in 1970 and has ten members which include the library associations and librarians of Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.

CONSAL holds a general conference every three years in each member country by turn and promotes cooperation among librarians in Southeast Asia Region. CONSAL provides the forum for the librarians and information specialists to strengthen networks, partnerships, and linkages with each other; promotes coordination, collaboration, and provides the platform for sharing and exchange of information and experiences on issues in the fields of librarianship, library and information sciences, documentation, information and related activities in the region.

CONSAL XVII is acting as a leading force in developing strategic relationships, undertaking the collaborative activities, and taking the good advantages for significant opportunities for the libraries in the Region.

We need to join our strength together to provide access to information for all citizens, preserving and access to the culture and heritage, advancing digital inclusion through new technologies, promoting universal literacy, and serving as the heart of the lifelong learning opportunities for our society.

May 2-5,2018 Naypyitaw,Myanmar

GREETING FROM NATIONAL ORGANIZING COMMITTEE

Welcome to CONSAL XVII in Naypyitaw!

On behalf of the Organizing Committee of 17th Congress of Southeast Asian Librarians (CONSAL XVII) I would like to extend a warm welcome to all participants to the 17th Congress of Southeast Asian Librarians, and related meetings of the Executive Board and Directors of National Libraries of Asia and Oceania.

I am extremely glad that Myanmar is able to host for the first time a CONSAL gathering in our country. In year 2000 I had the honour and privilege to lead the first Myanmar delegation of librarians to a CONSAL meeting in Singapore where Myanmar was officially accepted as a member country of this important and prestigious Congress of Southeast Asian Librarians. It is now 18 years since we joined CONSAL; I am again very happy to welcome all the CONSAL delegates to our country and especially to our new capital city Naypyitaw.

The Theme of CONSAL XVII: "Next Generation Libraries: Collaborate and Connect" is indeed a timely topic that we as Southeast Asian librarians should be discussing as all our region. Libraries are in a period of rapid change where no country or library can stand alone in the dissemination of information and knowledge. It is especially an appropriate theme for Myanmar which has been opening up rapidly to rejoin all countries and institutions of the world after over half a century of isolation.

Libraries of Myanmar and other Southeast Asian countries need to discuss strategic alliances and partnership and new competencies and training for library and information profession, which I note are some of the important topics that we will be discussing in the next few days.

Myanmar leaders from our President, U Htin Kyaw, and State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, are strong advocates a library culture and promotion of a life-long reading habit.

Our country is in the process of modernizing our libraries from public libraries and mobile libraries which reach remote villages, to university libraries and the Myanmar National Library and its branches. I hope librarians from our region and outside will be able to visit various types of libraries while they are in Myanmar, many for the first time.

I would like to wish all our foreign guests a pleasant stay in our country, and to all participants many sessions of fruitful discussions.

Congress Venue

Myanmar International Convention Centre (MICC II)

It is located on 16 acres of land with 312, 000 square feet in Zabuthiri Township, Naypyitaw. It was built by the People’s Republic of China and completed on 15 March 2010. The MICC has a plenary hall that can accommodate 1900 persons. The MICC building is formed with listening rooms, holding rooms, meeting rooms, VIP summit room, news briefing room, singing room and the 720 person capacity Banquet Hall.

Connection to Naypyitaw

Naypyitaw is the administrative capital of the Union of Myanmar. Centrally located, it is 391 km from Yangon and 302 km from Mandalay, being easily accessible from all parts of the Union.